Reston, Va. - Sprint Nextel, the Reston-based wireless giant, on Friday named handset maker Nokia as a key partner in its new next-generation WiMAX mobile network. Nokia – along with Intel, Samsung and Motorola – will create network infrastructure and access devices that will allow consumers to access high-speed wireless Internet service beginning in late 2007. [more..]

Washington, DC - XM Satellite Radio, the DC-based provider of subscription satellite radio services, said on Friday that it added more than 442,000 new net subscribers during the fourth quarter, but fell just short of its target for the year. XM finished the year with 7.625 million subscribers, missing its own estimates of 7.7-7.9 million. The company, however, said that it achieved positive cash flow from operations during the fourth quarter. [more..]

Vienna, VA - BackFence CEO and co-founder Susan DeFife has resigned from the company, amidst a major downsizing that saw 12 of 18 employees let go. Co-founder Mark Potts will serve as interim CEO as the company looks to solve what he calls “BackFence 2.0.” [more..]

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Retrevo, a Sunnyvale-based dedicated search engine focused on helping consumers research, buy or fix their electronic products, said on Friday that it has secured $3.2 million in its second round of funding, led by Norwest Venture Partners. Previous investor Alloy Ventures also participated. [more..]

Cambridge, Mass. - According to a new report by market analysis firm Forrester Research called "Is The US Ready For Mobile Marketing?", early results show that consumers will readily engage in campaigns as long as marketers deliver valuable information or content, even though 79% of consumers perceive the concept of mobile ads to be annoying. [more..]

New York - MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom, today announced a new global digital media executive team that will provide strategic guidance and share best practices in operations, technology, and distribution for MTVN’s portfolio of multiplatform brands. The team will report to Mika Salmi, the newly hired President of Global Digital Media for MTV Networks, while directly working with the digital heads of MTVN’s various brands and business units. [more..]

Alexandria, Va. - The three-month-old fraud trial of two former AOL executives may be nearing an end, The Washington Post reported on Friday. Federal prosecutors wrapped up their case against former business affairs executive Kent Wakeford and former unit vice president John Tuli on Thursday after parading more than three dozen witnesses to the stand. [more..]

Boston - Boston-based Berklee College of Music's online extension school has taught over 11,000 students during the last four years, with another 6,000 signed up during the current year, making it the world's largest online music college, the school announced in a press release on Friday. [more..]

San Mateo, Calif. - San Mateo-based video sharing site YouTube has been ordered by a Brazilian judge to block Brazilian Internet users from viewing racy footage of supermodel Daniela Cicarelli and her boyfriend, The Associated Press reported. The video reportedly shows the two becoming intimate on a beach. YouTube was first ordered to remove the video in September, the AP said. [more..]